Hip's Next Machine - Road Fixie

Hip

They all look good to me. Anything looks better than my recently converted Repco Traveller. However, my total cost was $65 to buy the bike from a mate and $85 for the LBS to do the conversion.

Feel like a dorc when riding to work on the bike track, especially when I pass one of my road cycling friends. But I'm getting a good workout and learning how to handle the damn thing.

When I get a bit more competent I might go for a better quality bike like the ones on the link and even give the track a try (on my own of course). I can hear "she who must be obeyed" bleating about it now.

I tried to get a 2nd hand fixie (under $500) over the web but there wasn't much interest in anyone selling me one. Need a big frame (58 to 60). Any ideas?

Spider

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Originally posted by hippy
Any comments so far? 😉
hippy

You'll blow your knee young man.

Quoted message said:

Originally posted by Spider1977
They all look good to me. Anything looks better than my >recently converted Repco Traveller. However, my total cost
was $65 to buy the bike from a mate and $85 for the LBS
to do the conversion.

I was going to originally do a hack job on a $50 bike, but
decided I wanted something a little nicer because like the SS
I'd probably get addicted to riding it.

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I tried to get a 2nd hand fixie (under $500) over the web but >there wasn't much interest in anyone selling me one. Need a >big frame (58 to 60). Any ideas?

That's funny - I bought my track bike for $500 with a selection of gears a second set of wheels (Campag Record singles). It was in
a fairly common size too (55cm). I found mine on www.tradingpost.com.au.

I know there was a MASSIVE frame for sale at my LBS but I think it was bigger than what you are after.

You could try asking any trackies or the club at the track. I also emailed the bike shops I knew that specialised in track racing about bikes. Keep an eye out on ebay too. One will pop up eventually.

hth
hippy

ooh nice, fixies are cool. Not saying I'd have the guts to ride one myself off the track...

There's a couple of crazy couriers in the city with fixies and only a front brake, they came into Cecil Walkers a fair bit when I was doing work experience there.

Sorry, this post is being rather pointless. :p What sort of wheels would you have on the bike? Obviously track wheels with the Surly frame (which looks nice, btw, but you'll be struggling to find one in Australia; possibly order from the US? I do have a review of a Surly 1x1 in a Bicycling Australia from 3 or so years ago which should have the distributor's name, but I'm not sure I can be stuffed getting out of bed at 11.35 😉) but with any other frame, would you just build up, say, some Mavic CXP's with the White Bros. ENO hub?

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Originally posted by Etxy
but I'm not sure I can be stuffed getting out of bed at 11.35 😉

The sacrifices I make, kiddo... :p Who needs sleep anyway. In the space of 8 months, it seems, Bicycling Australia did two reviews of single speed bikes.

November 2001- A review of an On-One Inbred, single speed mountain bike. On-One, quoth BA, is an English brand with Reynolds steel frames. Distributor is-
On-One Oz
Ph. no- 03) 9431 5844

April 2001- A review of a Surly 1x1. Surly was the brand you were interested in, so I'll cut to the chase. It says the distributor was-
Dirt Works
Ph. no- 02) 9679 8400
Website- www.dirtworks.com.au

Might be worth giving Dirt Works a ring or email; even if they're not still distributing Surly stuff, they could probably give you a pretty good idea of who to turn to next.

And as for me? I'm going to sleep. 😄

Surly's are carried at Spoke(n) in the CBD

Hey Hippy. you mentioned Bicycle recycle

Do you go there often and if not how did you know what they had currently?

Been meaning to wander down there and poke about for bits for my SS (and possibly my next 700c/rod SS - no comments on buying bits, from you either!)

What are prices/stock/anything like???

AH-FlyingDutch

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Originally posted by cfsmtb
You'll blow your knee young man.

Knee? What knee? They both disappeared when I found
out what a singlespeed was ;-)

hippy

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Originally posted by Etxy
The sacrifices I make, kiddo... :p Who needs sleep anyway.

I do at the moment :P

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On-One Inbred

Yep, I've lusted after these bikes for quite a while now but I'd
decided to build a road frame rather than mtb. BUT, you've
reminded me about their Il Pompino cyclocross frame which
could be a nice option. I think there was a review of this in one
of my mags.. must look..

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Surly 1x1

This was going to be my alternative to the Inbred. Now that I'm
onto road frames the Steamroller is the model o' choice.
I believe DirtWorks still do Surly - I should ask...

Thanks dude!

hippy

Quoted message said:

Originally posted by wassupdawg
Surly's are carried at Spoke(n) in the CBD

I think most LBS's can get access to the DirtWorks catalog.
Do you know if they have any of the frames in the store?
I should get off my backside once in a while and head into
all the cool city bike stores.. just for a look...

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Hey Hippy. you mentioned Bicycle recycle

No, no that was another hippy... not me, no way ;P

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Do you go there often and if not how did you know what
they had currently?

Never been there before. The reason I know what they have
is that I called and they checked their stock of 56cm frames.
They had 2 in stock. They also said they had plans to put their
stock online - but I've heard that from shops before 🙂

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Been meaning to wander down there and poke about for bits >for my SS (and possibly my next 700c/rod SS - no comments
on buying bits, from you either!)

Buying parts for an SS.. NOOOOOO!!! 😉
It's ok man.. I'll probably end up spending large $$ on this
next bike anyway 🙂

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What are prices/stock/anything like???

All I know of is the two 56cm road frames. $200 and $250, but
I can't remember the manufacturers.

hippy

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Do you know if they have any of the frames in the store?

Yes they have a few 1x1's (and mentioned an anniversary model in bright pink! not for this liddle bwack duck, mifter!)

All I know of is the two 56cm road frames. $200 and $250, but
I can't remember the manufacturers.

horizontal dropout jobs?
Oh, hang on. you mentioned the white Bros eccentric number, didnt you. The Melb Uni bike shop apprently is very SS orientated and has one on display - droooool!

seeing as I have an entire Veloce grouppo sitting about doing nothing, I guess I can use the BB, cranks, Headset, forks (wicked chromed straight numbers :-) ), stem, ergos and brakes for the project.
BB and headset may not be up to it
(PS how much stuff do you keep lying around?)

then its just a matter of getting the handlebars and seatpost and rearhub/cog and built up into my Campag Atlanta aero rims (know you'll like that!)

PPS is there any rule of thumb cranklength wise re SSing?
Do you stay the same, go longer for greater leverage or shorter for better spinning?

Quoted message said:

Originally posted by flyingdutch
Yes they have a few 1x1's (and mentioned an anniversary >model in bright pink! not for this liddle bwack duck, mifter!)

Yeah I know about the pink ones - not for me either. I've got
the GT holding together for a SS MTB for now so the 1x1/Inbred can wait.

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All I know of is the two 56cm road frames. $200 and $250, but
I can't remember the manufacturers.

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horizontal dropout jobs?

No, "standard" modern road frames.

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Oh, hang on. you mentioned the white Bros eccentric number, >didnt you. The Melb Uni bike shop apprently is very SS >orientated and has one on display - droooool!

Melb Uni bike shop? Should I visit them? They might have the
one I want without ordering it (3-4 week wait).

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seeing as I have an entire Veloce grouppo sitting about doing >nothing, I guess I can use the BB, cranks, Headset, forks
(wicked chromed straight numbers :-) ), stem, ergos and brakes >for the project.

Ergos? On a SS? Ditch them and find some old brake levers.
I ran brifters on the GTSS until I found some plain brake levers.

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BB and headset may not be up to it

Why? Worn out? It's only a hack isn't it? You could use them
or throw in some cheapie replacements.

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(PS how much stuff do you keep lying around?)

Everything, basically. Most of it is on bikes though so I don't actually have a large "parts bin" like other people.

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then its just a matter of getting the handlebars and seatpost
and rearhub/cog and built up into my Campag Atlanta aero rims >(know you'll like that!)

I'm gonna have to start throwing more money at mine or you'll outdo me! ;-)

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PPS is there any rule of thumb cranklength wise re SSing?
Do you stay the same, go longer for greater leverage or
shorter for better spinning?

Me? I took what I could get for free 🙂
The typically spoken 'rule of thumb' for SS's is "go long". Most
people like to fit 180mm cranks. But this is usually on an mtb.
It's really up to the individual - I would fit shorter cranks (165mm)
to a road fixie because I know I will be pedalling around corners. For an SS though, you don't have that problem so any length will
be fine. I use 172.5's on the road bike.

hth
hippy

hippy said:

At the moment, it looks like I'll get a White Industries ENO eccentric fixed/free hub from aussie distributor Atomic Industries and fit that to a used frame.
Bicycle Recycle have some frames in my size I want to look at.

For my first road fixed gear, I used an '80s steel road frame, with a rear end spaced for 5/6 speed (120mm). I simply laced a new rear wheel using a Suzue Pro-max track hub (from Sheldon) and Open Pro rim. I used a road 49 tooth chainwheel that I had banging around with a 19 tooth 3/32 cog from Sheldon, and rode. Very cheap, and very satisfying.

A pic is at http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/suzyjackson.htm

Regards,

Suzy

flyingdutch said:

PPS is there any rule of thumb cranklength wise re SSing?
Do you stay the same, go longer for greater leverage or shorter for better spinning?

Shorter is good, both to improve spinning (which is what it's all about anyway) and to improve ground clearance (especially with non-track frames). I use 170 on mine, though I'd go to 165 on my red one if I had them, as it's a road frame with a typical low bottom bracket.

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I would fit shorter cranks (165mm)
to a road fixie because I know I will be pedalling around >>corners. For an SS though, you don't have that problem so any >>length will
be fine.

huh? wont I have to pedal round corners on a SS?
or is SS the generic term for 'freewheeling one-geared' whereas 'Fixed' is what I should be saying, yeah?

my Veloce cranks are 172.5's

maybe some of those 'stoker' style bars like one of the gals bought at Moore's (or was it ebay?) would be cool. was only gonna use the ergos cos that's what I got (and they have adjustable cable pull so way off into the future when road-discs are all the go i can use a mechanical disc on the front😉 )

Quoted message said:

Originally posted by flyingdutch

Quoted message said:

I would fit shorter cranks (165mm)
to a road fixie because I know I will be pedalling around >>corners. For an SS though, you don't have that problem so any >>length will
be fine.

Quoted message said:

huh? wont I have to pedal round corners on a SS?
or is SS the generic term for 'freewheeling one-geared' >whereas 'Fixed' is what I should be saying, yeah?

A fixed gear bike forces you to pedal through every corner. An
SS (singlespeed, not necessarily fixed gear) will not generally
be pedaled through a corner. You usually drop the outside foot
and coast through (well, I do).

I thought you were building up an SS (freewheeling singlespeed) not a fixie?

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my Veloce cranks are 172.5's

Ahh, they'll suit me fine. Just drop them off at my place will
you? Ta. ;-)

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Maybe some of those 'stoker' style bars like one of the gals >bought at Moore's (or was it ebay?) would be cool. was only

Yeah I want to at least try them. If I like - they stay.

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gonna use the ergos cos that's what I got

Now you're getting it :P

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(and they have adjustable cable pull so way off into the future >when road-discs are all the go i can use a mechanical disc on >the front😉 )

I'd say "Yeah, in your dreams", but I know when people say that, 6 months later full ultralight hydro disc brakes come out for road bikes!

hippy

nah, I wanna go fixie'd

can go with my soon-to-be-permanent hardcore 'sicklist' look
(tat) and being able to scoff at nancies on bikes with gears at the lights (who settle for comfort, ease-of-use and other such loookserries!)

maybe i need one of those poles with a foxtail on it too. and one of those horns that go.... nah-neh-nah..... oh bugger, cant figure how to type it... )

Quoted message said:

Originally posted by flyingdutch
nah, I wanna go fixie'd

Ahh ok, call it a fixie then rather than SS so I know what
you mean ;0)

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can go with my soon-to-be-permanent hardcore 'sicklist' look
(tat) and being able to scoff at nancies on bikes with gears at >the lights (who settle for comfort, ease-of-use and other such >loookserries!)

At least if you ever see me and bag me for riding a geared bike,
I can remind you of someone who owns a triple hehehe 😉

What's your tatt going to say/look like?
Mine will say "That's not how you spell Collnaggo".. or not 😉

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maybe i need one of those poles with a foxtail on it too. and >one of those horns that go.... nah-neh-nah..... oh bugger, cant >figure how to type it... )

Don't forget all the chrome, the neons and the sick mate fully
sub woofer fully sick mate...

hippy
"can I go home now?"

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At least if you ever see me and bag me for riding a geared >>bike, I can remind you of someone who owns a triple hehehe 😉

Low-blow!

do the Alpine Classic and get back to me matey 😄

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What's your tatt going to say/look like?

did some trials on weekend. you know how when you've been riding a bike and you stop and get on-off the bike and you get home and realise you have yet again managed to put a perfect print of your big chainring on the inside of your calf?
Well, mines gonna be permanent eek: :eek: :eek:

a few months back sitting round, beers in hand being philosophers bouncin' round what would would you get as a tattoo? Well the only thing I could concievably justify that was with me for life and coursing thru me viens was bikes...

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Originally posted by flyingdutch

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At least if you ever see me and bag me for riding a geared >>bike, I can remind you of someone who owns a triple hehehe 😉

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Low-blow!

Sorry, couldn't resist! :-D

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do the Alpine Classic and get back to me matey 😄

Okay! <looks around for helicopter option>
Do (m)any non-racer people do that on a double?
There's always the push option 🙂

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What's your tatt going to say/look like?

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print of your big chainring on the inside of your calf?
Well, mines gonna be permanent eek: :eek: :eek:

Noooooo! :P

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tattoo? Well the only thing I could concievably justify that was >with me for life and coursing thru me viens was bikes...

Yeah, I thought the same thing when I typed that question. Of course, I've always been opposed to tatts (on me) so I'd never get one. An artsy sprocket tatt would be nice. Or a wheel.
Maybe if I was obsessed with a single bike brand/model - it's logo?